Litigation Counsel

Mazda Motor Corporation

9h•Remote

About The Position

The Counsel - Litigation serves as a trusted advisor and subject matter resource for a portfolio of consumer claims, warranty disputes, mediations, and litigation matters, including matters arising under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. The role assesses legal and business risks, develops litigation and resolution strategies, directs outside counsel, and provides legal guidance to business stakeholders on matters that may affect the organization financially, operationally, and reputationally. The role works closely with consumer experience, technical, quality, warranty, and regional operations teams, as well as outside counsel, to investigate claims, develop defense strategies, assess risk, and achieve effective and efficient resolutions. It partners with outside counsel throughout assigned matters and provides legal guidance and support to internal stakeholders on consumer disputes and litigation-related issues. The position may also handle other litigation, dispute resolution, and legal matters as assigned, including product liability, class actions, dealer matters, regulatory inquiries, and other legal department initiatives.

Requirements

At least 6 years of experience as an attorney in a law firm and/or corporate legal department, including litigation, dispute resolution, or consumer protection matters.
Juris Doctor (JD).
Active membership in the State Bar of California.
Strong judgment and decision-making skills.
Ability to work independently while consulting the manager and, where appropriate, the Chief Legal Officer on legal matters and challenges.
Strong time management, organization, prioritization, and planning skills to handle assigned matters effectively, efficiently, and on time.
Effective and timely oral and written communication skills.
Professionalism, integrity, and service orientation when supporting internal stakeholders and external business partners.
Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify risks, analyze facts, and provide practical, timely legal guidance.
Curiosity and desire for continuous process improvement.
Empathy and teamwork skills, including sharing learnings and building consensus within and outside the Mazda Legal department.
Ability to collaborate effectively and provide legal guidance within cross-functional teams.
Ability to assess legal risk and provide practical, business-oriented recommendations.
Strong negotiation and dispute resolution skills.
Ability to manage multiple matters concurrently while maintaining quality and timeliness.

Nice To Haves

In-house legal experience as an attorney within the automotive, manufacturing, or consumer products industry.
Experience handling consumer litigation, warranty, and lemon law matters.

Responsibilities

Independently manage a portfolio of consumer litigation, warranty, and lemon law matters, providing strategic direction on case assessment, litigation approach, dispute resolution options, settlement considerations, and matter management.
Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance to internal partners and the pre-litigation department on case handling and resolution.
Provide training for different business units and dealerships.
Attend mediations and trials.
Evaluate legal and business risks associated with assigned matters and provide practical recommendations to business stakeholders.
Direct and oversee outside counsel on litigation strategy, discovery, case evaluations, settlement recommendations, trial preparation, and resolution activities.
Monitor litigation trends, claim outcomes, settlement activity, and emerging legal developments affecting consumer litigation and warranty matters.
Review and approve litigation budgets, invoices, and case strategies in partnership with outside counsel.
Prepare case status updates, risk assessments, and reporting summaries for legal and business leadership.
Support preservation, collection, and review of documents and information relevant to litigation matters.
Assess legal, financial, operational, and reputational risks associated with consumer disputes and litigation, and recommend case strategies, settlement options, and responses to business impacts.
Identify trends and recurring issues arising from consumer claims and litigation activity and recommend process improvements or risk mitigation strategies.
Handle other litigation, dispute resolution, and legal matters as assigned, including support related to product liability, class actions, dealer matters, regulatory inquiries, and other legal department initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and standards.